ACT vs. SAT: does SAT preparation transfer to ACT?

Lafalum84
Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:20:33 +0000

DD bombed the PSAT, took an expensive Kaplan class - waste of money, I don’t recommend Kaplan - then took both the SAT and ACT. Did much better on the ACT. Took it a second time, same composite score (up 1 point in math, down 1 point in writing).

I can’t say if the SAT prep helped with the ACT or not, because the course was so poorly run. General consensus I’ve heard is that the best way to prep for the ACT is to practice, using the Real ACT book. ACT doesn’t really have “tricks” the way the SAT does, it’s much more straightforward and knowledge-based.

But I do recommend every kid take both the SAT and ACT once. See which you do better on, then prep to take that one again. I haven’t heard of any colleges that don’t accept the ACT at this point.